Brick-kiln.



Nb. 743,215- PATBNTEDNOV. 3,1903.

J. ,w. AREGOOD-Y BRICK KILN.

APPLI-OATIOF FILED OUT. 23, 1902.

H0 MODEL.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- yaw/A PATENTBD NOV. 3, 1903. J. w. ARBGOOD.

BRICK KILN.

Arrmognon rum: 00123. 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

BEECH V dtfoivwye.

UNITED STATES i atented fiovember 3, 190a JOHN W. AREGOOD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BRICK-KILN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 743,215, dated November 3, 1903.

Application filed October 23, 1902. Serial No. 128,439. (No model.)

.To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN W. AREGOOD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Brick-Kilns; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had, to the accompanying drawings, which form a- It is usual in burning bricks in kilns to produce an initial draft by a wood or coke lire in order that a sufficient draft may be created to cause the coal in the grates to support the combustion. The heat of the fire alone is ordinarily insufficient to burn the bricks to the requisite degree, and consequently it is customary to mix coal screenings with the clay of which the green bricks are formed. The fire ignites the screenings, so that the bricks are burned to the necessary extent; but the consumed screenings leave holes in the finished bricks, which is not desirable. Another difficulty experienced in burning bricks in kilns as at present constructed is that the grates located at each end of an arch of bricks do not throw sufficient heat toward the center of the kiln to burn the bricks sufficiently at points intermediate of the two grates.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a heatgenerating apparatus for brick-kilns which will not require the crea-.

vide a brick-kiln with a heat-generating ap paratus which will completely consume a cheap grade of coal and throw the products of combustion to all points within the kiln and which will be capable of varying the volume of heat according to the condition of the bricks.

A still further object of my invention is to provideaheat-generating apparatus forbrickkilns which will be comparatively simple in construction, inexpensive in manufacture, efficient in use, and economical in the 0011- sumption of fuel.

The present embodiment of my invention, generally described, consists in providing a brick-kiln with grates beneath which air or steam is fed to promote the combustion of the fuel, which may be tilted or oscillated, so as to throw the heat toward the center of the kiln, and which may be so adjusted as to vary the size of the fire according to the condition of the bricks in the kiln.

My invention further consists in injecting steam into a brick-kiln at points above the grates, thereby forcing the products of combustion toward the center of the kiln and burning the bricks remote from the grates.

My invention will be more fully described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings,in which the same is illustrated as embodied in a convenient andpractical form, and in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of a brick-kiln, showing myheat-generating apparatus; Fig. 2, a sectional detail view through the grate and its support; Fig. 3, a cross-sectional view of the grate, showing its supportin front elevation; and Fig. 4C, a plan view of a grate, a portion thereof being broken away.

Similar reference characters are used to designate similar parts in the several figures of the drawings.

A indicates one of the walls of a brick-kiln, within which, as is customary, the bricks B are arranged in the form of an arch and so spaced apart as to permit the circulation of the products of combustion.

a indicates an opening through which extends a grate for the combustion of fuel to generate the heat for burning the bricks. The grate is preferably located in a depression below the level of the ground A in order that the products of combustion may reach the lowest bricks in the arch, which rest upon the ground.

a indicates a bridge-wall at the rear of the depression, in which the grate is located.

D indicates a shallow box or receptacle of a size corresponding to the maximum size desired for the grate. Around the top of the vertical walls of the box D is a laterally-projecting flange d d. The flange d is adapted to support a grate E, which may conveniently consist in a metal plate provided with perforations. An imperforate plate F, of the same size as the grate E, is located above the latter and is adapted to cover the grate toagreater or less extent, as desired. The grate and plate F may be retained in proper position above the box D by any suitable meanssuch, for instance, as a series of guide-hooks d and (P, which are secured to the side flanges d of the box D and project over the side edges of the grate and superimposed plate.

A tubular coupling G communicates with the interior of the box D and is adapted to be united to a conduit, through which may be supplied air. A second tubular coupling 9 may also be provided to convey steam into the box D.

The box D is provided with journals D and D which project laterally from the sides thereof near the front of the box. These j on rnals are adapted to be seated in bearings formed in vertical side portions 0 and forming parts of a supporting-frame for the grate. The tops of the side frames 0 and O are united by a cross-piece O The ends of the cross-piece C are provided with studs 0 which project through the openings in the side frames 0 and 0 thereby uniting the frames 0 and C to the cross'piece G The side frames 0 and C are provided with laterally-projecting flanges c and 0 which are supported upon the ground. The side frames are preferably provided with perforations to permit the admission of air. The upper portion of the space between the side frames 0 and O is closed bya swinging door (3*. The door may be conveniently supported by means of laterally-projecting pintles c, which engage sockets formed upon the side frames 0 and O near the top thereof.

A nozzle H extends through the wall A of the kiln at a point above the grate. A cook it controls the passage through the nozzle H. The nozzle communicates by a suitable conduit with a supply of steam, which may, if desired, be superheated.

The grate is maintained in the desired position by any suitable support inserted beneath the box D at the end thereof opposite to the studs D and D shown the portion of the grate within the kiln supported by bricks B. It is obvious,

however, that the grate may be adjustably supported by any other suitable means, so as In Fig. 1 I have to permit the same to oscillate about the studs D and D The operation of my invention is as follows: In order to create an initial draft in the kiln, the imperforate plate F is slid into such a position that it covers the grate except as to the portion thereof located farthest within the kiln The fuel is then placed above the exposed portion of the grate and ignited. Air is then admitted through the coupling G, or steam may be admitted through the coupling g, which increases the combustion and creates a forced draft through the kiln. By covering a portion of the grates surface the blast of air or steam is concentrated, thereby producing an exceedingly hot fire and cans ing a draft to be established through the kiln. The superimposed plate F may then be withdrawn from above the grate and fuel supplied over the entire surface of the grate. The air or steam fed into the box D produces a fire of sufficient intensity to thoroughly burn the bricks without necessitating the use of coal-screenings as an ingredient of the green bricks.

The horizontal level of the grate may be varied by removing one or more of the bricks B from beneath the inner end of the box D. The inclined position which the grate then assumes, as indicated in Fig. 2, results in the products of combustion being. projected toward the center of the kiln, and the bricks located in the arch remote from the grate are consequently thoroughly burned. Steam may also be admitted through the nozzle H by turning the cock hinto the proper position, which also effects the distribution of the products of combustion throughout the kiln by forcing the products of combustion as they arise from the grate horizontally toward the center of the kiln.

The superimposed plate F maybe entirely removed from above the grate when an extended fire is desired, or it may be adjusted to any desired position above the grate, there by varying the size of the fire according to the condition of the bricks in the kiln.

Should clinkers accumulate above the grate, the fire may be pushed inwardly off of the grate onto the wall a on the ground A and the clinkers then removed from the grate to the front of the kiln, after which the fire may be again drawn forward onto the grate. In this manner the fire may be readily freed from clinkers and the grate kept clean.

The use of my invention results in saving of time in the manufacture of bricks inasmuch as the regulation of the size of the grate and the forced draft obviates the necessity of establishing an initial draft through the kiln by wood or coke fires.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that I have invented an improved heatgenerating apparatus for brickkilns IIG whereby it is unnecessary to produce an initial draft by wood or coke fires and whereby the products of combustion may be forced toward the center of the kiln, and conse quently circulate around the bricks in the entire arch. It is also evident that by employing a forced draft the degree of heat generated will be such as to burn the bricks to the desired extent without the necessity of the use of coal-screenings in their composition. It will be further observed-that by my invention the size of the fire may be readily varied to suit the condition of the bricks.

While I have shown and described my invention as used in connection with a kiln, it is obvious that the same may be employed in connection with other apparatus, and, in fact, anywhere that the combustion of fuel is required, and while Lhave described more or less precisely the details of construction I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I contemplate changes in form,

the proportion of parts, and the substitution of equivalentsas circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a kiln, of a grate for generating heat for burning the material in the kiln, and means for varying the area of the surface of said grate to regulate the size of the fire according to the condition of the material in the kiln.

2. The combination with a kiln, of a grate for generating heat for burning the material in the kiln, means for feeding air to said grate to promote combustion and direct the heat toward the center of the kiln, and means for varying the area of the surface of said grate to regulate the size of the fire according to the condition of the material in the kiln.

3. The combination with a kiln, of a tilting grate extending within the same, a nozzle connected to a source of fluid-pressure extending into the kiln above the grate, means for feeding air to said grate to promote combustion and direct the heat toward the center of the kiln, and means for varying the surface of said grate to regulate the size of the fire according to the condition of the material in the kiln.

4. The combination with a kiln, of a box having an open top extending within the kiln, a conduit communicating with said box for feeding air thereto, a grate supported upon the top of said box whereby a forced draft is created and the products of combustion directed toward the material in the center of the kiln, and means for varying the area of the surface of said grate to regulate the size of the fire according to the condition of the material in the kiln.

5. The combination with a kiln, of a box having an open top extending within the kiln,

a conduit communicating with said box for feeding air thereto, a grate supported upon the top of said box whereby a forced draft is created and the products of combustion directed toward the material in the center of the kiln, and an imperforate plate superimposed on said grate for varying the effective size of the grate thereby regulating the size of the fire according to the condition of the material in the kiln.

6. The combination with a kiln, of a box having an open top extending within the kiln, means for pivotally supporting said box, a conduit communicating with said box for feeding air thereto, a grate supported upon the top of said box, a nozzle connected to a source of fiuid-pressure and extending into the kiln above the grate whereby a forced draft is created and the products of combustion directed toward the center of the kiln and means for varying the area of the surface of said grate to regulate the size of the fire according to the condition of the material in the kiln.

7. The combination with a kiln, of a box having an open top extending within the kiln, means for pivotally supporting said box, a conduit communicating with said box for feeding air thereto, a grate supported upon the top of said box, a nozzle connected to a source of fluid-pressure and extending into the kiln above the grate whereby a forced draft is created and the products of combustion directed toward the center of the kiln, and an imperforate plate superimposed on said grate for varying the eifective size thereof and thereby regulating the size of the fire according to the condition of the material in the kiln.

8. The combination with a kiln, of a grate :extending through a wall thereof, means for varying the effective surface of the grate to regulate the size of the fire according to the condition of the material in the kiln, a supporting-frame for said grate comprising vertical sides and top uniting the upper ends of the sides, journals projecting laterally from said grate near the front thereof and engaging bearings in the sides of said supportingframe, and means for adjustably supporting the rear end of the grate whereby the inclination of the surface thereof may be adjusted so as to direct the products of combustion toward the center of the kiln.

9. In an apparatus for the combustion of fuel, the combination with a pivotally-supported box having an open top, a conduit communicating with said box for delivering steam or air thereto, a grate supported at the top of said box and means for varying the area of the surface of said grate to regulate the size of the fire according to the condition of the material in the kiln.

10. In an apparatus for the combustion of fuel, the combination with a box having an open top, a supporting-frame in which said box is journaled, a conduit communicating In testimony whereof I sign this specifica- With said box for delivering steam or air tion in the presence of two witnesses. thereto, a grate supported at the top of said box and means for varying the area of the JOHN AREGOOD' 5 surface of said grate to regulate the size of Witnesses:

the fire according to the condition of the ma- GEO. L. XVILKINSON,

teiial in the kiln. CLARA G. CUNNINGHAM. 

